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T his material, also called edge tape or edge-banding, commonly measures 1%6 in. wide for use with %-In.-thlck plywood. It Is sold in rolls from 8 ft. to 250 ft. long, and it is available in a number of different woods. Birch, cherry, mahogany, red oak and walnut are fairly easy to find, but you can also buy It in ash, maple, pine, white oak, teak and just about any other species of hardwood plywood that is made. Because it's so thin, edge-banding Isn't suitable for furniture components that will be subject to heavy use. But once the heat-sensitive glue has melted and cooled and the edge-banding has been trimmed, the seams are virtually invisible. Just remember that heat causes the glue to release, so don't choose edge-banding for pieces that will be exposed to heat. A standard household Iron Is the tool of choice for most people who use edgebanding. Set the iron to a medium heat level. While it's warming up, you can cut lengths of banding to size, allowing a little overhang on both ends. Move the Iron slowly back and forth, applying a steady pressure until the heat-sensitive glue melts and bonds the edge-banding to the plywood. Some people burnish the banding with a scrap of wood, but I haven't found that technique necessary to get a good bond. The glue needs to cool before you can trim the banding; otherwise, you end up with a gooey mess. You can trim the edgebanding overhang with a razor blade, a veneer saw, a file or a specialty tool designed for the Job (see the photos at right). Ironing is simple and straightforward. A regular household iron set on medium heat is all you need to melt the heat-activated glue on the back of manufactured edge-banding. The material is available in just about any hardwood veneer that is also used to make plywood. Plywood guides the cut. Rodriguez uses a sharp veneer saw to trim edge-banding on small workpieces that he can easily hold with one hand. To direct the cut he keeps the bottom of the saw flat against the plywood. The right tool for the job. For trimming large quantities of edge-banding, invest in a springloaded edge trimmer designed for this task. The one shown here is made by Virutex and sells for about $10. Photo, this page (lOp left): Kelly j. Dunton MAY/JUNE 2002 57